Three Ways to Politicize Bioethics

Abstract

Many commentators today lament the politicization of bioethics, but some suggest distinguishing among different kinds of politicization. This essay pursues that idea with reference to three traditions of political thought: liberalism, communitarianism, and republicanism. After briefly discussing the concept of politicization itself, the essay examines how each of these political traditions manifests itself in recent bioethics scholarship, focusing on the implications of each tradition for the design of government bioethics councils. The liberal emphasis on the irreducible plurality of values and interests in modern societies, and the communitarian concern with the social dimensions of biotechnology, offer important insights for bioethics councils. The essay finds the most promise in the republican tradition, however, which emphasizes institutional mechanisms that allow bioethics councils to enrich but not dominate public deliberation, while ensuring that government decisions on bioethical issues are publicly accountable and contestable.

Politics By Another Name

“…Rob Irvine, University of Sydney There is considerable talk in bioethics these days about the political condition of the discipline particularly the idea that 'politicization' has become a problem (Brown 2009;Caplan 2005;Kahn 2006;Macklin 2006). There are important reasons at this time for us to attempt to grasp the nature of politicization and explore its meaning for bioethics.…”

“…In contrast, Brown (2009) argues that a republican model is a more promising alternative. Republicans focus on equalizing governmental power, so that no group can suppress the views of any other interested parties.…”

“…To limit undue influence we must encourage greater participation by a myriad of groups representing wider interests, not hide groups' actions behind the veneer of individual citizen engagement. Brown (2009) describes liberalism as a political system of interest group politics, in which individuals influence representatives and other governing bodies through their membership in larger groups. Bioethicists are viewed as neutral sources of information who provide decision-makers with objective advice.…”

“…In the target article "Three Ways to Politicize Bioethics," Mark Brown (2009) explores politicization with respect to liberal, communitarian, and republican political theory, concluding that republicanism offers the most promising avenue. While Brown should be commended for his thorough analysis of this topic, he ignores political realities that make the republican model far more problematic than the liberal one.…”

“…In many ways, Brown's (2009) description of republicanism is quite appealing. He is right to suggest that liberals often seem too caught up in protecting individual choice without understanding that there can be negative results from too much of a good thing (Berger 2007).…”